States of Poetry 2016 SA Podcast | 'Oxytocin' by Kate Llewellyn

In this episode of Australian Book Review's States of Poetry podcast, Francesca Sasnaitis introduces Kate Llewellyn who reads her poem 'Oxytocin' which features in the 2016 South Australian anthology.

Oxytocin

On this bright morninga cruel wind is up.I don't care –last night I strode among the stars.Black swan shelter in the sandhills' lee,while pelicans stand preeningon the lagoon's edge.We each must share our little pillof poison – a tattooed drummer,a drunk, a married man –while we sit at kitchen tablesdrinking tea with other women.Rain pelts down the windowswhile we talk about the promisesthey made. It's enough to makeyou laugh since it's only downto chemicals. When oxytocin floodsthe brain, fools and dillsand maniacs look irresistible.I don't care –last night I strode among the starsand my brain drank by the gallonthe chemical that makes me thinkhe's wonderful.Now I'll need a thousand cups of teaand tears measured by the litreto flush the oxytocin from my brain.Sunsets seem meaningful,rain is glistening on the neighbour's rooflike tears. The rhapsody of natureonly underwrites that last nightI strode among the stars.